Air supply device



June 1931- B. 1'. BALTHAZOR ,808,

AIR SUPPLY DEVICE Filed Feb. 10, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l gmwiih' A iiorney June 2, 1931. B. "r. BALTHAZOR AIR SUPPLY DEVICE Filed Feb. 10, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor f A itorney Patented June 2, 1931 UNITED stares BENJAMIN r. BALTHAZOR, or RACINE, Wisconsin} AIR SUPPLY DEVICE Application filed February 10, 1930. Serial No. 427,232.

This invention relates to improvements in air supply devlces and more particularly to devices of this character for use by a fireman.

An'important object of the invention is to provide, in a manner'as hereinafter set forth, an air supply deviceof the aforementioned character which is adapted to be embodied in or associated with the nozzle of a fire hose in a manner to collect freshair from the stream of water discharging therefrom and the invention furthercontemplates means for conducting said fresh air from the nozzle to a firem'ans mouth and nose to enable him to work in a smoke or gas filled building orenclosure without danger of being suffocated.

Another important object of the invention is to provide an air supply'device' for firemen of the aforementioned character which embodies means for preventing the entrance of smoke thereinto with the fresh air, said means comprising a rotatable band mounted adjacent the discharge end of the nozzle and adapted to be driven'by the stream of water passing therethrough. Other objects of the invention are to provide an air supply device of thecharacter described which will be simple in construction, strong, durable, efficient in itsuse and which may be manufactured at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects 'andadvanta'ges of the invention will become apparent from a studyiof the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like characters' 'of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein 7 Figure 1 is a view showing a device constructed in accordance with this invention muse. g V Figure 2 is a view in elevationshowing the discharge end of a fire hose with a 'nozzle thereon embodying the air supply de vice constituting this invention. Figure 3 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view through the device.

Figure 4 is a vertical cross sectional view taken substantially on the line 44 of Figure3 looking in the direction of the arrows. Figure 5 is a detail view in elevation showing the rotatable fan adapted to prevent the' entrance of"smoke into the device.

Referring to the drawings iii-detail, the 55 reference character 1} designates the end portion of a fire hose to which is connected theelongated pipe or handle 2 having its forward end threaded into the enlarged internally threaded end portion 3 are substantially cylindrical discharge'nozzle 4, the bore of which is of uniform diameter throughout. Y j

e A sleeve 5 encircles the nozzle 4 in spaced relation thereto and has one endconnected thereto through the medium of-the enlarged end portion 3, as clearly illustrated in Figure 3. The sleeve-'5 isprovided with, an enlarged end portion 6 which projects forwardly beyond the corresponding'end of: the nozzle 4:. The forward ends of the nozzle 4 andslecve 5 are "maintained in spaced con-, centric relation with respect to each other throughthe medium of the integral eXternal flange 7 on the nozzle 4 which fits snugly within an internal flange 8 on thesleeve 5. The peripheries of the flanges 7 and 8 are provided with pairs of complementary, opposed spaced semi-circular recesses or notches which. provide a series of openings or perforations 9' which extend transversely through the wall formed by said flanges 7and'8.- I i A'ring1O of greater diameter than the nozzle 4 is mounted on saidnozzle at its forward end and projects forwardly therefrom" through the medium of an inturned flange portion 11 whichencircles-saidmozzle and is fixed thereto in any suitable manner. The ring 10 is disposed within theenlarged end portion 6 of the vsleeve 5 'andis provicledwvith integral, outwardly extend ing lugs 12 for engagement with the inner side ofsaid' enlarged portion-6. An ann'ulus 13 is mounted for rotation in the ring 10 and is disposed in alignment withthe bore of the nozzle 4' and said annulusris substantially of the same diameteras said nozzle. 'Antisfriction balls 14 are disposed' between the ring and the annulus 13, said ring and annulus having their opposed sides provided with circumferentially extending A. longitudinally extending nipple 17 is fixed on the forward endof the enlarged.

portion 6 of the'sleeve 5 and the bore of said nipple is of slightly greater size than the bore of the nozzle 4 and the annulus 13.

By thus maln'ng the bore of the nipple 17 slightly greater, thanthatof the nozzle 4,

i an air space 18 is provided between the stream-19 and the inner wall of said nipple, asclearly seen in Figure 3 of the-drawings.

Rearwardly ofthe'flange 8, the sleeve 5 is provided .with an integral externally threaded branch 20 for connection with a coupling 21 (seeFigure 4:) -to which is connected a plurality of'air conducting tubes 22 which have their free ends provided withhoods 23 adapted tobe secured'tightly over the nose and mouth of the person using the device. If desired, the hoods 23 may also include a mask to-go over the eyes of the user. 1 r

The fan 16 is formed, of a flat metallic ring having portions thereof struck out and bent forwardly therefrom at an appropr-iateangle to provide impeller blades 16,

as illustrated toadvantage in Figure 5 of the drawings,

In use, the hoods 23 are positioned over the nose and mouth of the user in the man- 18 between the stream 19 and the nipple 17 and thus prevent the entrance of smoke into the chamber 23 formed between: the. nozzle land the sleeve 5. .I-Iowever, when the user of the device inhales, the force of theband is overcome and fresh air may be drawn rearwardly past the fan 16, through the openings 19. into the chamber 23 and then through the branch 20 into the-air conduct- 'ing' tubes 22 to. the hoods23. The hood 23 such stream contains a certain amount of maybe of any desired type "provided with means by which the :wearer may exhale without interfering with the fresh air to be inhaled. The fresh air thus inhaled is taken from the stream-of water- 19 passing through the-hoseas it is well known that fresh air and a portion of the air is also drawn rearwardly'through the nipple 17 from the area immediately adjacent the outlet end thereof as indicated substantially by dotted linesinrFigure 3 of'the drawings. It is also well known that the immediate vicinity of the discharge'end of a nozzle from which a stream of water is being discharged on the pressure. 7

It is believed 'that'the many advantages of an air supply device constructed in accordance with this invention will be readily understood, and although the preferred embodiment of the invention is as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction may be had which will fall within the'scopeof the invention'as claimed. 7 f

VVhatis claimed is:. v J 1; In an air supply devi'ceof the character described, a nozzle, a sleeve encircling the nozzle in spaced relation thereto in a manner to provide an air chamber therebetween, said chamber open atits'forward end, a rotary fan associated with the'open end of the chamber in a mannerto normally blow air therefrom, and suction tubes communicatingwith the chamber rearwardly of the fan and adapted to draw air therefrom. H 2. In an air supply device of the character described, a nozzle, a sleeve encircling the nozzlein spaced relation thereto in a manner to providegan air chamber therebetween, said air chamber open at its forward-end,a ring mounted on the nozzle and extending forwardly therefrom and disposed within the sleeve, an annulusmounte'dfor rotation within the ring, said annulus, being substantially longitudinally aligned with the nozzle adjacent the dischargeend thereof and having means thereon engageable with the water discharged from the nozzle for rotating said annulus,:a fan fixed on the annulus forirotation therewith and; adapted-to normally blowair away from the chamber, and suction tubes connecting with the chamber rearwardly of the; rotary fan to draw air. from said, chamber.

3. In an. airsupply device of the character described, a discharge nozzle, a sleeve encircling; the nozzle in spaced relation thereto in a manner to provide an air oham ber therebetween and ,having an air outlet therein, saidsleeve extending; forwardly of the discharge end-of the nozzle and afan mounted for rotation on. the discharge end portion ,of the nozzleand disposed within thesleeve. 1

4. In an'air supply device of the character described, a water. discharge nozzle, a sleeve encircling the nozzle in spaced I relation thereto in a manner to provide an air chamber therebetween and having an air outlet therein,sa-id sleeve having an enlarged end portion extending forwardly of the discharge end of the nozzle and co-axially therewith, a nipplemounted onthe forward end of the enlarged portion of the sleeve and having a longitudinal bore of greater diameter than the bore of the nozzle, said nipple and the nozzle being longitudinally aligned and a rotatable fan mounted on the nozzle and disposed for rotation in the enlarged end portion of the sleeve and adapted to normally eject air from said sleeve outwardly through the nipple.

5. In an air supply device of the character described, a Water discharge nozzle, a sleeve encircling the nozzle in spaced relation thereto in a manner to provide an air chamber therebetween, said sleeve having an enlarged end portion projecting forwardly of the discharge end of the nozzle and coaxially with said nozzle, a ring mounted on the discharge end portion of the nozzle and extending outwardly and forwardly therefrom and disposed in the enlarged end portion of the sleeve, a water actuated annulus mounted for rotation within the ring in longitudinal alignment with the nozzle and adjacent the discharge end thereof, afan fixed on the forward end of the annulus for rotation therewith and disposed in the enlarged end portion of the sleeve, a nipple rigidly mounted on the forward end of the enlarged sleeve portion having a bore of slightly greater diameter than the bore of the nozzle and disposed in longitudinal alignment therewith, said sleeve adapted for the passage of the water from the nozzle in a manner to provide an air space between the water passing therethrough and the inner periphery of said nipple, said fan being adapted to normally eject air from the chamber outwardly through the nipple and suction tubes communicating with the chamber rearwardly of the fan and adapted to Withdraw air from said chamber.

8 In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

BENJAMIN T. BALTHAZOR. 

